Soldier welcomed home

Monday

Sep 24, 2012 at 8:00 AM

A Centreville soldier returned home Saturday, receiving a hero’s welcome from dozens of his neighbors, friends and fellow village residents.In the midst of squad cars from Centreville and the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department, as well as local fire departments, Jason Slone and his family in their SUV were escorted through town and into their Davis subdivision.

Jef Rietsma

A Centreville soldier returned home Saturday, receiving a hero’s welcome from dozens of his neighbors, friends and fellow village residents.In the midst of squad cars from Centreville and the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department, as well as local fire departments, Jason Slone and his family in their SUV were escorted through town and into their Davis subdivision.The scene on West Charlotte Street was a happy one, where a crowd of well-wishers gathered to cheer his arrival.“This means a lot to me, thank you very much,” Slone said to the crowd, humbled by the attention but grateful, nonetheless.He was the recipient of numerous hugs and handshakes from neighbors and friends who had not seen him since he left for Afghanistan a year ago.A member of the U.S. Army, Slone has been back on U.S. soil for a few weeks. But on Saturday, his troop was dismissed from their Manistee-based unit. Early Saturday, his wife, Sarah, and their four children – ranging in age from 19 to 10 – drove up to bring their husband and father back home.Slone, who is in his early 40s, is employed by the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety. He is going to have some down time before returning to work later in the year.“What a welcome home … I appreciate it,” he said to his neighbors and friends before heading inside to enjoy his first night back in St. Joseph County in more than a year.Chris Sheteron, a member of the Centreville Village Council, played a significant role in organizing the impromptu greeting. She said she had short notice of Slone’s arrival and rallied together as many residents as she could to meet the escort at the intersection of West Main and West Burr Oak streets.A crowd of nearly two dozen people assembled there, waving flags as the small convoy passed.Further east, Michael and Dana Sherman unfurled a large American flag as the procession approached South Jane Street.Though they do not know Slone, the Shermans said they were happy to support the soldier and take part in celebrating his safe return home.“Michael is a veteran so he knew this was important,” Dana Sherman said about her husband. “It’s a happy moment to celebrate someone’s return when they’re safe and back with their family.”